Aston Unity 207-9 Bromsgrove 209-6

Bromsgrove win by four wickets

NEW boy Nadeem Malik showed his all round skills to hand Bromsgrove their first win of the season in the Birmingham and District League Division One on Saturday.

Malik, allocated to the Boars from Worcestershire for the season, stiffened the tail end by hitting a half-century and bagged two wickets to kick start Bromsgrove's season.

Off spinner Kish Patel also hit top form as he grabbed a six-wicket haul at St Godwalds.

Captain Nick Davies lost the toss and Aston put the home side into field. The decision though seemed to backfire as wicket keeper Phil Hamilton caught opener Perkins for nought off Malik's delivery.

However, Ashfaq (62) and Ishtaq (23) soon began to put Aston into a commanding lead with a 40 run partnership.

Mark Evenson ended the partnership when he had Ishtaq caught by Nick Edwards.

Patel began demolishing Unity's batting order by dismissing Rehman for (18).

However, despite Patel removing the dangerous Ishfaq, Stevenson (57 not out) posed a threat.

Patel though removed the tail end, taking 6-62 in 17 overs as Aston completed the batting on 207-9 in their 55 overs.

Bromsgrove's reply with the bat suffered from a shaky start as Julian Court (17), Davies (0) and Edwards (0) were early victims to Zaidi.

Spinner Stevenson removed Justin Rose (14), but Nick Reade (52) added some much needed impetus with his half century, before Stevenson dismissed him.

With the game at a crucial stage Malik (64) added some steel to Bromgrove's order, but the removal of Evenson saw the Boars slump to 120-6.

However, Hamilton (31 not out) formed a formidable partnership with Malik at the crease to frustrate Aston's bowlers and steered their side to 209-6.

The Boars go to Smethwick on Saturday.